Chapter 8: Lost Ties
"Hold still," Kisho said, tearing off a part of his sleeve and wetting it in the river the two youths had collapsed beside to rest, "The place I know about isn't much farther, but we need to stop this bleeding or all those hollows will have to do is follow the trail."
He leaned close to the brown-eyed youth, cleaning away some of the blood on his face, then handing Rikichi the compress to hold against the wound on his forehead. His fingertips touched the area lightly and a soothing green glow rose around them.
"It's fine, really," Rikichi assured him, "Head wounds always tend to bleed a lot and usually look worse than they actually are. And besides, I'm not the only one who was injured.
He tore one of the pockets off of his yukata and leaned forward, pushing Kisho's yukata down off one shoulder and examining a long gash.
"It's not so bad," Kisho said, flinching as Rikichi cleaned the wound and sent healing reiatsu into the area, "I guess one of them got me with a claw as I ran past."
"You're lucky it wasn't any deeper," said Rikichi, giving him a kind smile, "Those hollows were very powerful to have managed to attack our headquarters."
"Yes," said Kisho, "That's been bugging me. I mean…what sense is there in them attacking that place? They didn't even hit the part of the headquarters where the bulk of the shinigamis were. They struck right where we were, almost as though they meant to."
"But that's silly," said Rikichi, shaking his head.
Then he remembered the look that the hollow had given him, and how it spoke to him.
"Then again…when the hollows attacked the orphanage yesterday, one of them spoke to Miki," he added, "And today, one of the attacking hollows spoke to me. I wonder what that means."
"I'm not sure," said Kisho, "but I think after a little rest here, we should try to reach my aunt Yoruichi in Karakura Town. We can find her at Urahara Kisuke's shop, I think."
"But Kuchiki taichou will be…"
"I think that your taichou will understand that considering that we were obstructed by menos grande, we could not safely reach Kuchiki Manor."
"Well, I think we're on the property, but it's so big, we're a ways off from the manor itself," said Rikichi, "But if the hollows knew that's where we were going, they could be watching for us. Maybe your idea is better. But…we should get going."
He started to stand, but then put a hand to his head and swayed dizzily. Kisho wrapped an arm around him and helped him sit down again.
"I think we need to find a better place to rest," he commented, shifting to cat form, "Climb on and I'll take you to the place I was thinking of. It's abandoned, but we might be able to find some warm blankets…and I know there's an apple tree."
Rikichi nodded briefly and scrambled onto Kisho's sleek back, wrapping his arms around the leopard's neck and resting his head on the big cat's shoulder. His eyelids drooped and he drifted off to sleep as Kisho carried him away from the river and into the woods. A few minutes later, they emerged near a set of old ruins.
"This is Itamigiri," he told Rikichi, "It's an old prison where they used to hold the half bloods a long time ago. The prison is pretty run down, but there is an officers' wing that is still in pretty good shape."
He glanced over his shoulder, curious at hearing no answer from the other boy.
"Rikichi?" he queried softly.
The other youth answered with a soft snore. Kisho smiled.
"I told you that you needed rest," he said, turning towards the wooden building.
He carried Rikichi inside, then shifted to shinigami form and carried the sleeping youth into one of the bedrooms. He set Rikichi gently on a sofa, then located some relatively clean bedding and made the bed in the room. He lifted the sleeping shinigami and placed him in bed, then left to gather apples from the tree outside. He returned with the apples and raised a protective reiatsu chamber to hide their presence. Climbing onto the bed, Kisho ate one of the apples then laid down next to his friend. He watched quietly as clouds gathered in the sky outside and the air chilled. Rikichi shivered in his sleep and moved closer to Kisho, mumbling something unintelligible. Laughing softly, Kisho shifted to cat form and wound his feline body warmly around the sleeping youth. He dozed as Rikichi slept, his eyes closed, but his ears perked and listening for the slightest sound of anyone approaching.
XXXXXXXXXX
Byakuya stood in the ruins of the squad six headquarters, grimly surveying the damage to the officers' section and thinking deeply. He heard the sound of a flash step and sensed Renji's reiatsu and turned towards the redhead.
"How is the boy?" he asked quietly.
"He's all right," Renji reported, "Just kinda shaken up, But Unohana taichou wants to keep him there for a little while to make sure. The part of the building he was in came down pretty suddenly. Damn…those hollows really hit the place with a vengeance, ne?"
"Yes," agreed the noble, "And while one could make sense of them striking the officers' quarters to disrupt the response, the very brashness of attacking a military installation, and the placement of the strikes bother me. What is more is that, if what you told me about what happened in Rukongai 33 last night is true…then despite looking like an attack on our squad, this may have been aimed at Miki and Rikichi. Remember that they were both at that party and their files were among the ones stolen from the orphanage."
"And," Renji added, "All five of the kids whose files were stolen, arrived at the shelter within the same time frame, and Noa said that Tadao was the one who brought them there."
"We need to know more about this 'Tadao,'" Byakuya mused, "Was Noa able to give you any more information about him?"
Renji nodded.
"Some. He appeared just around the time those five boys arrived at the orphanage. The boys arrived on different days, and were all orphaned at different times in different ways, but ended up in some kind of trouble, and this man rescued them and delivered them to the orphanage. Noa said that he was a quiet person, who would come to give the kids lessons in gardening and horseback riding…and sometimes he would bring books and clothing he collected for the kids in the orphanage."
"Did you get a physical description?" asked Byakuya.
"About your height," answered Renji, "Black hair, white skin, good hygiene and, according to Noa, sad looking blue eyes. No one I talked to knew more than that. Apparently, he didn't talk much about himself. What I think is kind of telling is that he remained relatively close to the orphanage, though he never gave the impression that there was a reason beyond his dedication to helping the children there. Noa also said that he carried a zanpakutou, although he did not wear a shihakushou or anything that seemed connected to the Gotei 13."
"Hmmm," sighed Byakuya, "That isn't much to go on. I would have you look into this in more detail, but I am concerned that once the person or people who sent the hollows know that Miki and Rikichi survived the attack, they will come for the boys again. Whoever this is, is very determined that those boys should die."
"That doesn't bode well for the ones who are missing," said Renji, shaking his head.
"No," agreed the noble, "I have an exceptional team in the Rukongai now, working on that end of things, but we need to see to the boys' protection and follow up on this person, Tadao."
"We could send the boys to Kisuke," suggested Renji, "Then you and I could focus on finding out who Tadao is, and where he disappeared to."
Byakuya nodded.
"I agree. That would be a safer place for them while we investigate this. I want you to escort them, Kisho too, to Urahara's shop."
"Kisho too?"
"Yes," said the noble, "He is not one of the five, but he is a witness to some of the things that have happened. He is their peer and seems comfortable with them. And he is powerful enough that, if trouble finds them, he will be useful in protecting them."
"Good thinking," said Renji, "All right. I'm going to get Miki from the fourth division."
"I have sent Kisho and Rikichi on to Kuchiki Manor. You can meet me there. I need to check in on my cousin, and then I want to do some investigation on whether there might be any further links between these boys than the ones we already know."
"Your cousin?" queried Renji, furrowing his brow, "Which one?"
Byakuya's eyes widened.
"Ah, in all of the confusion, I must have neglected to mention, my cousin Tetsuya returned to Kuchiki Manor last night."
"Tetsuya?" said Renji, "You mean, the one you all thought was dead? Is he okay? Where has he been all of this time?"
"We don't know anything as of yet, because he was unconscious when he arrived. But we have determined that he and his stallion, Arashi, recently escaped some kind of captivity. They were injured in the escape, and Tetsuya has not yet awakened to tell us where he has been. Still, it is a great relief that he is back. He and I were very close as children."
"Well, I'm glad for you, Taichou. I know he was special to you."
"Yes…well, there's time enough to see to our grander reunion later, when he has had some time to recover. In the meantime, we must see to our mission. The lives of these boys are at risk."
"You've got it, Taichou. I'll meet you back at Kuchiki Manor."
"Arigato, Renji."
XXXXXXXXXX
Tetsuya moaned softly and opened one blue eye, trying to focus on the room he was in. Something about the scents around him, and the slowly resolving scene he found himself in seemed oddly familiar, but he found himself unable to fully recognize it. He sat up slowly, placing a hand on his aching head, and closing his eyes tightly against the instant dizziness that struck him. Vague memories of intense pain, of fear, and of falling struck him in turns, leaving him confused as he continued to survey the room he laid in. His eyes found a mirror, and he caught his breath softly at the sight of his own face.
"Oh…" he gasped softly, "What's…wrong with me?"
He touched his face with light fingertips, then slid out of the bed onto shaky legs that threatened to collapse beneath him. A man entered the room, carrying a tray bearing tea and soup. Tetsuya staggered back, wide-eyed, bracing himself against the wall, so as to stay on his feet as the man set down the tray and met his eyes apologetically.
"Master Tetsuya, I am so sorry I startled you!" the other man said quickly, "But it is good to see you awake. Lord Byakuya will be so pleased."
"D-do I know you?" Tetsuya asked in a trembling voice, "You look familiar, but…"
"I am Torio," said the man, smiling at him, "I may look a bit different, because I was a boy too, when we knew each other. Don't tell me that you have forgotten…"
"I…I don't…know," Tetsuya stammered, "Everything is very…fuzzy. I know I have been here, but I don't remember exactly."
"Come back to bed, Master Tetsuya," Torio said kindly, "I will bring Lord Byakuya, and I am sure that the two of you will make sense of things. I am so happy that you have come back. Lord Byakuya was devastated when you could not be found. He searched endlessly for you…for many years."
"I have been…missing, then?" Tetsuya asked softly, his body relaxing slightly.
"Yes…for many years. You appeared last night in the courtyard, but you had been hurt. You will be all right now. And do not worry, I am sure that Lord Byakuya will clear things up for you. Rest…have some tea. I will be right back."
Tetsuya moved to the edge of the bed and sat down. He picked up the tea and sipped at it as Torio left the room.
"Lord…Byakuya," he whispered, "Torio?"
He heard voices outside in the gardens, and walked to the opened garden doors. A tall, raven-haired man in a shihakushou and taichou's hoari, and wearing a kenseiken and a long flowing scarf, stood facing another house attendant.
"What do you mean, they never arrived?" he asked the servant, sounding deeply concerned, "I ordered them to come straight here."
"But sir," said the servant, "They never arrived here. There was a disturbance outside the gate…m-menos grande!"
"What?"
"The house guards fought them off, and they left through a garganta. It has been quiet since then, but no one arrived, before or after that, sir."
"I see," said the raven-haired man, worry clouding his strangely familiar features.
A flash step sounded and a tall red-haired man appeared in front of the two with a dark-haired boy at his side. Tetsuya staggered back, his eyes going wide as a vision flashed in his mind.
"You are going to be all right," he said softly, lifting the semi-conscious red-haired youth into his arms, "I will take you to someone who can help you!"
"B-but…that guy t-tried to…!"
"He is gone. I won't let him find you again."
"What is this?" Tetsuya gasped, his legs giving way, and a harsh blackness enveloping him, "Who is that man?"
His body struck the floor heavily, alerting the nearest house guards.
"Lord Kuchiki!" one of them called to Byakuya, "Sir, your cousin!"
Byakuya's head turned sharply and caught sight of the guards leaning over Tetsuya, where his cousin had collapsed just inside the bedroom.
"Stay here with Miki in the gardens," he said tersely to Renji, flash stepping towards his room.
He reached the place where the guards leaned over Tetsuya and dropped to his knees at his cousin's side.
"We don't know what happened exactly," said one of the guards, "We heard him speaking to Torio, and then he came over near the doors…and just collapsed."
Byakuya lifted Tetsuya and carried him back to the bed, then sat down beside him. Tetsuya stirred sluggishly and his large blue eyes opened again and fixed on Byakuya.
"Are you all right?" Byakuya asked calmly.
"I think so," said Tetsuya, "except for being very confused."
"What is confusing to you?"
"I…feel like I should know this place…that attendant, Torio…you…myself, but I can't remember!"
"So…things around you feel familiar?"
"Yes. But I don't know why they are familiar," Tetsuya explained.
"You were in some sort of accident…we think, while attempting to elude someone who had abducted and held you prisoner near here. We do not know the circumstances that befell you, nor why you disappeared all of those years ago. But things will be all right now. You are home now, Tetsuya. And I will not let harm come to you here."
Tetsuya managed a weary smile.
"That is a comfort…erm…"
"Byakuya," the noble supplied.
"That is a comfort, Lord Byakuya."
"Good," said Byakuya, nodding briefly, "Now, I will ask that you remain here and rest until you are stronger. My attendant, Torio, will see to your needs. Unfortunately, something of some importance has occurred and I must see to that. But I will return to speak to you again soon."
"Thank you, Lord Byakuya," Tetsuya said, settling back against the pillows and taking another swallow of tea, "I am very grateful."
"And I am very relieved that you are all right," said Byakuya, "I have missed you, and when things come back to you, we will get to the bottom of whatever it is that took you away from me. We will find answers together. Rest now, Tetsuya. I will be back soon."
Byakuya gave his cousin's hand a gentle squeeze, then he rose and walked back out into the gardens.
"Is your cousin all right?" asked Renji.
"Yes," Byakuya answered, looking back at the open garden doors, "He will be fine. But right now, we have to concentrate on keeping Miki and Rikichi out of harms way."
He looked down at Miki questioningly.
"Are you sure you're all right?" he asked.
Miki nodded.
"I wasn't really very hurt," he explained, "Everything just kind of collapsed around me, and I was trapped. I just had some cuts and bruises. Luckily, the hollows didn't see me where I was trapped. But what about Rikichi and Kisho? Where are they?"
"They escaped the hollows," said Byakuya, "but it seems that they encountered more when they tried to reach the manor. There are no signs that the hollows harmed them. I suspect they may have concealed themselves and will emerge soon. While we wait for that, you will proceed with Renji to Karakura Town. I want you to remain there with Urahara Kisuke and Shihoin Yoruichi until we find Rikichi and Kisho."
"You're not coming?" asked Renji.
"I am going to start tracking Kisho and Rikichi. I think that we can agree that I am better suited to reiatsu sensing than you, ne?"
"That's not nice Taichou," complained Renji as Byakuya flash stepped away, "It's true, but it isn't nice to go and point it out like that!"
Renji heard Miki laughing and scowled down at the youth.
"What's so funny?" he demanded.
"Well," said Miki, biting his lips to stop himself from smiling, "It kind of reminds me of Rikichi and his problem with hell butterflies!"